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Criminal Justice & Public Safety
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A new technology to monitor alcohol consumption is assisting parole and probation officers in Orange County, CA to verify that offenders are not violating the conditions of their release. The Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor (SCRAM) ankle bracelet works by measuring the alcohol content in a wearer's sweat. The bracelet can detect and record the presence of alcohol within one hour of consumption, and report it through a modem located in the offender's house--at a cost of about $12 a day. Currently, there are 500 SCRAMs in use in Orange County and 6,000 nationwide.
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School administrators at Brittan Elementary School, close to Yuba City, CA, are piloting a program which has students wear radio frequency identification devices. New to the field of education, these devices contain identification information such as a student's name, that can be read by scanners to verify school attendance. While some parents oppose such stringent measures, Ernie Graham, the school principal, emphasizes that the device "...keeps kids safer. Two weeks ago I found someone on campus who wasn't supposed to be here and we knew about it because he didn't have a badge."
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Developmentally disabled individuals in Spokane County, WA, now have an "independent" alternative to living in group homes. HomeOwnership Opportunities started as a pilot program by a local non-profit organization, The Arc of Spokane, and was underwritten by a $45,000 grant from the Washington State Developmentally Disabled Council. The program links potential homebuyers to resources and experts that can assist them in choosing new homes and filling out the necessary paperwork. The program also includes seminars that will teach these individuals the responsibilities of homeownership, which range from home repairs and yard work to the financial aspects of maintaining a home. To protect against default, The Arc will act as a protective payee, receiving funds and paying mortgages and other bills if necessary.
Mentally-handicapped individuals and their families often face difficult and even dangerous situations.To assist these citizens, community leaders and The Denver Police Department have created FACEIT (Family, Advocacy, Crisis, Education and Intervention Team). Funded by public grants and private monies, FACEIT is a center staffed with on-site counselors, 24-hour access to clergy, and other professionals, providing an immediate and accessible alternative to simply calling the police in times of crisis.
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Officials at North Carolina's Triangle Transit system are looking to give their bus riders a little more information. Through the use of Global Positioning System technology, Triangle officials are working to renovate bus stops in the Chapel Hill area with digital message boards that inform riders when the next bus is scheduled to arrive. Triangle officials also plan to make the information available online, so commuters can make more informed choices before leaving home in the morning or leaving work at night.
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2005 City and County Innovations Summit and Performance Management Awards
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Hosted by the Performance Institute, in association with the Ash Institute, the 2005 City and County Innovations Summit is the most comprehensive performance management event of the year for city and county managers. This year's Summit will be hosted in Phoenix on March 21-23, 2005.
Additionally, the Performance Institute will recognize innovative management practices in city and county government through a series of awards. The City and County Performance Management Awards will recognize excellence in budgeting, public-private partnerships and organizational performance management. Click here for applications and additional information about the Summit and the City and County Performance Management Awards.
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